The theme for EBBP this month was "Groups". The idea was to come wearing identity stuff for a group you were part of. Supposedly there was going to be a groups parade at the beginning of the ride, with the winning group to win some sort of prize. I got excited about the idea of going as part of the SJBP birds, that being a group I identify with. Some of us did show up with bird patches and SJBP clothing, but the parade didn't really amount to anything. Never heard about who won the contest.

        

I talked to this woman for a while before the ride got going. She explained that she spends quite a bit of time on social media because she's retired and it's a good way to give back to the community. She described the Bay Area Easy Riders as a chill bike riding group that gets together every week or so for an easy paced ride.

Frederick was charged about being a Californian. He brought spoke cards for those that wanted to share our state pride for group awareness. I gave him a "BIKE * PARTY!" sticker in the same general time frame he gave that card to me.

        

There were quite a few youngsters with those fish kites on a stick, but I never found out anything about the group.

        

I met the woman in the white fur at the first regroup. During the brief time I talked to her a lot of other guys made plays for her attention. Don't remember talking to anyone that was so popular before. Not sure why that was.

The guy in the jean jacket vest said that not only was he wearing colors for one biking group, but the shirt underneath represented another biking group. Both of them were mainly about having fun on two wheels. He's the kind of guy that always has a funny twist to add to the conversation. The kind that makes you forget where your train of thought was going.

We rode past Spengers and I just had to take a picture. I remember eating there with my Grandmother. She liked the place a lot. It says something that a place she liked all these years ago is still around.

     

I took that picture of the green flag at the second regroup. By that time I was sort of anxious because the turn I'd volunteered to bird wasn't far down the road and I wanted to be there at the right time. I followed the flag out of the regroup, and then stayed close until we got to Channing and Sacramento.

   

I called out "LEFT ON SACRAMENTO!" many times once I got there. After a bit Cathy joined me and helped with the intersection.  By the time the sweep came along and told us we were free to go most of the ride was far ahead.

When I got to the finish it was mostly over. I took a few pictures, said some goodbyes, and then headed for BART. I should have taken some pictures on BART, because lots of other people did the same thing and caught the same train. When we left the Berkeley station the train had about as many bikes as it could hold and everybody was in a very good mood from enjoying bike party.